Trump Slams Colombia Over Cocaine ‘Factories’ as Petro Alleges U.S. Southwest is ‘Invaded’

By Michael Katz | Monday, 22 December 2025 10:57 PM EST

President Donald Trump delivered a sharp rebuke to Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday, accusing him of enabling cocaine production and warning the leader to “watch it” following Petro’s recent remarks that portions of the southwestern United States constitute “invaded” territories.

The comments came during a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after the former president announced plans for new naval vessels. When asked about Petro’s weekend assertion that Texas, California, and other southern U.S. states were “invaded” territories, Trump stated: “He has to watch it because he has drug factories. They make cocaine in Colombia. He’s no friend of the United States. He’s a very bad guy, and he’s got to watch his [expletive] because he makes cocaine, and they send it into the United States of America from Colombia.”

Trump also emphasized his support for Colombians while criticizing Petro’s leadership: “We love the Colombian people,” he added. “I love the Colombian people. They’re great people; energetic, smart. But their new leader is a troublemaker and he better watch it. He better close up those cocaine factories. They have at least three major cocaine factories. We know where they are. He better close them up fast.”

The remarks followed heightened tensions between Washington and Bogotá as U.S. pressure on Venezuela intensified, including a naval blockade in the Caribbean Sea and the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers. Petro had previously stated that Texas and California were “invaded” territories not sold to the United States but rather occupied by foreign forces, drawing criticism from Trump who has consistently linked regional instability to drug trafficking.